[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13644-S13645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WAR IN IRAQ
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak briefly about the
progress on the war in Iraq and, importantly, the well-being and morale
of our troops in the field.
Last week, the State of South Dakota lost two of its sons in Iraq,
SSG Daniel Cuka, 27, from Yankton, SD, and SFC Richard Shield, 40, from
Tabor, SD. Both served in the 147th Field Artillery of the South Dakota
National Guard and were killed by improvised explosive devices while
riding in their humvees.
They were assigned the mission of assisting in the training of Iraqi
police. Three other members of their battery were also wounded. South
Dakota is now in the process of grieving for and honoring these two
brave men who answered the call of duty.
One week after this tragic loss, an historic event occurred today in
Iraq that gives particular meaning and value to the lives and sacrifice
of these two men. Today Iraq held a national election to fill
parliamentary seats and it appears that there was a massive turnout of
voters from each of the major ethnic and religious groups, including
from the Sunni population that only a few months ago rejected any
participation in the political process.
This election is only the latest in a series of milestones giving
testimony to the great progress that has already been made in our
effort to transform this country into a true democracy. Granted, it
will be a long road to the kind of democracy we have in this country.
But it was a long and bumpy road in our own journey. The fact that this
Iraqi election occurred at all, is amazing considering where the people
of Iraq were 5 years ago, without freedom to determine their future and
under the heel of Saddam Hussein's tyranny.
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Despite the naysayers in this country, optimism among Iraqis is
becoming infectious. Of course, optimism and support for what we are
doing has always been prevalent among our troops. Thanks to them and
the sacrifices they are making, we are on the cusp of delivering
something very special into the hands of the Iraqi people--the ability
to shape and control their own lives, lives free from the tyranny of
dictators, free from radical Islamic intimidation, and free from
hopelessness.
Let us dispell the fiction that America is not making progress in
Iraq, right here and right now. Under United States training and
guidance, 97 Iraqi battalions are now conducting security operations
throughout Iraq. In July of last year, there were only 5 Iraqi
battalions equipped and trained to fight.
Currently, 33 battalions have assumed their own areas of operation.
Last year at this time, the Iraqi security forces did not have control
over any areas of operation. Iraqi border police are now manning 170
border compounds and 22 ports of entry. Over 75,000 Iraqi policemen are
patrolling Iraqi cities. In the last election in January, 130,000 Iraqi
security forces successfully protected polling sites all over the
country and inspired a wave of pride throughout the country and a sharp
increase in recruitment. We anticipate that in the election that
occurred today, over 225,000 Iraqi security forces provided security to
the polling places.
In the January election almost a year ago, 8.5 million Iraqis turned
out to vote, defying terrorists threats. In the October referendum, 10
million voters turned out. We expect significantly greater numbers in
this election, including from the Sunni population whose Mullahs are
now encouraging their people to get out and vote after opposing their
participation in previous elections. Progress is clearly being made. To
say otherwise is simply inaccurate and demoralizing to our troops in
Iraq who are risking their lives to achieve these great milestones.
I would like to read a portion of an email sent to me by the mother
of a South Dakota soldier stationed in Iraq.
Dear John, I am a commissioner in Corson County, McIntosh,
SD. I also, happen to be a mother of 2 children in the Army.
My son is now in Iraq, stationed at Ar Ramadi--not a very
nice place right now! The purpose of this email is to ask you
to pass on to Congress the fact that all their back stabbing
and finger pointing is very devastating to the families of
the sons and daughters now in Iraq. If they think they are
representing the families by doing what they are doing on the
Hill and in the press they are sadly mistaken. I don't want
my son to be where he is, but anyone with any kind of sense
knows that we cannot just pick up and desert the Iraqi's at
this point. . . . Please, Please get this message out that
this is not what the parents, husbands, wives, and families
need to hear from our leaders. We have enough worry every
waking moment knowing our kids are in harms way. We don't
need the politicians using our loved ones in order for them
to further their political future.
The two fallen soldiers who are being honored today at a memorial
service in South Dakota gave their lives for a cause greater than
themselves. Those family members they left behind deserve to know their
sacrifices were not in vain.
We will win this war and Iraq will be a free independent democracy.
When our work is finished, Iraq will provide a vision and a clear path
for other countries in the Middle East to follow toward freedom and
democracy. As Americans, we cannot leave the Iraqi people with anything
less.
I ask unamious consent that a written statement honoring and paying
tribute to Sergeants Cuka and Schild, two American heroes, be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Mr. President, South Dakota has paid a heavy price in the
effort to make Iraq a functioning democracy and the world a
safer place. To date, fifteen South Dakota soldiers have made
the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq, nine of whom
died from hostile fire. About 85 percent of South Dakota's
National Guard members have been mobilized. Earlier this
month, two brave soldiers from my state paid the ultimate
price, and three more were wounded. I rise today to give
voice to the tremendous sympathy all South Dakota citizens
have for the families and friends of each of the courageous
soldiers our state has lost and this month, specifically,
Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Schild and Army Staff Sgt. Daniel
M. Cuka. On December 4th these two soldiers of the South
Dakota National Guard were killed by roadside bombs in Iraq
as they went about the dangerous and critically important
mission of training the Iraqi Police Force in one of
Baghdad's police districts. They have made the ultimate
sacrifice in service to our nation, and we as a nation will
be forever in their debt.
The soldiers of Battery C of the 147th Field Artillery unit
arrived in Baghdad only very recently, and have already been
exposed to the horror of war, and the deaths of some of their
friends. South Dakota has a very small population, Mr.
President, and word of the deaths of our citizen soldiers
fighting the war on terror has hit us very hard. I am proud
of our state's outpouring of support during this time of
great personal tragedy for the loved ones Sgt. Schild and
Sgt. Cuka have left behind. I know the communities of Yankton
and Tabor will miss them very much.
The lives of these two soldiers are emblematic of the many
citizen soldiers currently serving in Iraq. Sgt. Cuka
graduated from Yankton High School in 1996 and married his
wife Melissa in 2000. They had two young children, Abby, who
is 5 years old, and Alex, who is 2. Sgt. Cuka led an active
life, and dedicated his life to serving and protecting the
public. Apart from serving nearly ten years in the National
Guard, he served with Yankton Area Search and Rescue, and his
unit has retired his call number, the highest honor it can
bestow. He worked for Wilson Trailers in Yankton, and still
found time to attend classes at Mount Marty College.
Sgt. Schild was the office manager of Bon Homme Yankton
Electric Cooperative. He and his wife Kay also have two young
children. He was serving in Iraq along with his brother,
Brooks. After graduating from Mount Marty College, he joined
the National Guard. It is clear that Sgt. Schild was highly
dedicated to doing his duty, and had a strong sense of
community. Even though events in the Middle East made it seem
likely he would be called to active duty, Sgt. Schild still
re-enlisted. Even while he was in Iraq, Sgt. Schild was still
concerned about his community being without power due to a
severe winter storm late last month. In fact, the National
Guard helped to mitigate the effects of that storm. It is
humbling to be able to represent a community that has people
like Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka.
The human toll during wartime always gives us pause to
reflect on what we are fighting for in the war on terror.
Throughout America's history, we have faced determined
enemies on the battlefield, and we have been victorious. In
this war, we face a determined enemy that lurks in the
shadows, far from anything that can be characterized as a
battlefield. Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka fell to an enemy
that could not face them on the battlefield.
The challenges faced by our soldiers in Iraq are far more
complicated and delicate than the challenges of a traditional
battlefield. While our soldiers make every possible effort to
avoid civilian casualties, they face an enemy that hides
among civilians, and an enemy that rejoices in maximizing
civilian casualties. Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka died while
helping the vast majority of peaceful Iraqi citizens develop
the means to protect themselves, build a democracy, and
enforce the law. They were part of an effort to make the
world a safer and freer place for us and for future
generations of Americans.
When I think on the deaths of Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka,
and indeed all of the deaths of our soldiers in the war on
terror, I am reminded of a passage of Scripture that says
``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends.'' To the families of Sgt. Schild and
Sgt. Cuka, please know that all South Dakotans have lifted
you up in our hearts, and that you are in our thoughts and
prayers. If there is anything we can do for you, we will do
it. I hope it may provide some small measure of comfort to
you to know that Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka have laid down
their lives for their friends, and we are forever grateful.
Mr. THUNE. What they gave to the State of South Dakota, to this great
country and to the people of Iraq should never be forgotten.
I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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